Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-05-07


posed TO the nstonished vision Of the beau
tiful girl quaint and rare necklace Of
glittering diamonds IN Just such an an
tiquc setting as would have delighted q
Florentine jcwQler In the middle nges.
"Richardr' the cry escaped Irene's lips
in an agonized tone, as she grasped the
necklace and held It TO the light.
"Isn't 1t pretty" said Richard, with an
injured look.
"Oh, merclful heavensp'S exclaimed
Irene. "Can't be mistaken No, 1t is
too evident--how did you come by this
necklace, Richardi Did you say 1t was On
heirloom in your family"
"What o racketl'' said Richard, turn
ing pale and speaking very rapidly. eyes,
1t is an ancient heirloom In our family
my Observation-Disclosures used TO wear
it; it has never been cut Of the family
since 1t was purchased by an ancestor Of
mine, In Paris, think"
Irene gave another searching glance at
the necklace, and then clutched 1t tightly
In her hand.
Richard Macon" she said, in calm,
clear tones, "this was never an heirloom
in your family"
what can you mean--you are beside
yourselfT' gasped Richard.
II mean,n returned Irene, with pierc.
ing glance, ''that this necklace is one Of
the articles my poor murdered father had
with him when he was killed and robbed
In Georgia four years ago."
"Pshawln cried Richard. at may re
semble it, but of course it cannot be tn,
same. Don't know that 1t has always
been in our family You are losing your
senses, Ircne.n
~ am not mistaken" was the agitatet
reply. ~ have handled this necklace to'
often to be mistaken. Why, here is thu
private mark, placed there by my fathe
one day in my presence. / well recollec
that he said at the time that the mari
might some day aid in identifying TIN
necklace If it should ever be lost. 1t i
the same, and now, Richard Macon, how
came you by this precious heirloom"
"Your question is an insult, " was tn
hot answer. "Give me the necklace"
"Neverl This matter must be ex
| planned. must know IL your hands ar
stained with my fathers blood"
"Confound itl'' said Richard, 81 neve
even heard that Mr.. Murray was mur
! dered. Your talk is the maddest myster,
in the world to me-"
"My fathers name was Henderson,
| said the girl sternly. HE was murders
and robbed in lonely place among tn
mountains of Georgia. He had with hin
largo sum Of money and this jewelry. 4
poor devil was tried for the murder, foun'
| guilty and sent to the chain gang for life
The money and jewels were not found o.
him, and he always protested his innocenc
perhaps he told the truth"
| ''You said your fathers name was Her
| dersonY'
''Yes. After his death wealthy bach
elor brother of my mother died and LEI
her large fortune on condition that sh
should resume the family name of Nun
ray and the condition was exacted Of my
self. We accepted the terms, but when
foul murder is to be avenged, Irene Mul
ray remembers that she is Irene HendeI
son.
Richard Macon looked dumbfounded.
~ swear''-- he began.
~ will not hear your exclaimed Irene
her eyes flashing fire. "You began wit
lie-you called the necklace an heirloo1
you will lie on to the end of the chapte
if permit It'll If you have any statemer
to mako explaining how the necklat
came into your possession, you may pr'
ceed.n
For moment Richard Macon locke
like some wild animal ut bay. TheI
recollecting himself, he made a profoun
bow and said:
~ shall leave you now, Irene-you al
in no mood to listen to reason. In IL
morning you will laugh at your condut
of tonight and will beg my pardon.
shall leave you here. Au revoirP' an
with hooking smile he kissed his han
and walked rapidly away, leaving Irer
standing like statue, with the necklaC
clutched tightly in her hand.
When morning came, just as the gra
light was chasing the darkness away,
} pistol shot rang through the hotel The
> was rushing to and fro, and finally
crowd Of servants and boarders stood
Richard Macon's room, gazing upon Il
| dead body of the suicide as it lay stretcht
/ upon the bed, with q pistol firmly graspt
r n the right hand.
l Richard Macon had taken his own lif
e 1t was not the fear of the law that il
0 PEELED him to this rash step-he felt ab
1 to hold his own against the world. 81
8 he knew that no deceit, however artfu
s would clear him in the eyes of Irene Mu
e ray, and death was thousand times pre-
G cradle to life with the ever present sen
of her loathing and confident suspicion
his guilt.
5 The miserable man left sealed lett
/ for Irene Murray. In it was true recit
e of the facts of the case. The propositit
), of the convict Joe was stated, and t
a writer told how he yielded to template
a how he induced the prisoner, by promi
= ing him freedom, to disclose the hidil
place Of Henderson's money and jewel
s and how, when he had ascertained VIII
: he wanted, he had treacherously al
e coolly shot the convict down like do
and afterward made use of the scoundrel
Y hidden plumber. The letter was writt
with deyilishness GOODNESS, but at the clio
. the writer expressed his undying affecti'
o for Irene, and begged her to forgive /
v madness, folly and guilt.
Il The butterflies of the social world
IL Bagatelle could not fathom the mystery
Macon's suicide. They did not know t
a contents of his letter to Irene, and it w
S not until Irene was happily married,
: couple of years later, that any one kne
1t. She told her husband all about it O.
a day, and he, for an answer, merely fold
h her in his arms and kissed her.-Walia
p Reed in Atlanta Constitution.